Tuesday, November 20, 2007

How may I help you?

It is with great joy that I announce my departure from the House of Wal.

It is with a far greater amount of sadness that I announce the likely end of regular posting to behindthecounter.com.

You, my faithful readers, deserve to know the rest of the story.

On October 20, 2007, in the year of our Lord, I walked out of the Wal-Mart a free woman. FREE AT LAST LORD, FREE AT LAST.I had spent 1,097 days in bondage to the Lords of Low Prices.

For most of the last year, I have struggled to come to terms with the fact that the only real reason I worked at Wal-Mart was to have material to post. The increasing popularity of Behind the Counter made it harder and harder for me to walk away from something that I had literally poured my heart and soul into over a period of three years.

This is how the argument went in my head. “My life is horrible. What’s good right now? My blog. What’s bad right now? Wal-Mart. What can I do to make my life better? Quit Wal-Mart. But if I quit Wal-Mart, I won’t have a blog.” Yeah. Vicious, please meet my friend Circle.

When I started my blog back in April of 2004, I was searching for myself, happiness and a purpose in life. Five months later, I happened to start working at Wal-Mart and Behind the Counter was born. Writing my blog gave me a purpose and a focus.

When I began writing, I never imagined that the things I put out there would attract such a diverse group of readers, fans and people who generally appreciate my work.

I started working at Wal-Mart for the sole purpose of being able to pay my bills. Over time, my real job began paying me enough so that – with prudent budgeting – I could survive without the House of Wal. I need to break the Starbucks addiction, but we’re working on that.

I cut back to just the weekends at Wal-Mart and tried to stockpile stories for an entire week of posting. One side effect of this was that I never had a day off from work. Ever. Monday-Friday at the office and Saturday-Sunday at Wal-Mart. It was a grinding schedule that I kept up for more than two years.

As Behind the Counter grew in popularity, I felt the pressure to pump out more content. Most weekends, I would come home after a 2-11 shift on Sundays and stay up writing until 5 a.m. – when I would go to sleep for three hours and then get up and get ready for work at my real job by 9 a.m.

Over the past year, I have battled depression, the likely beginnings of diabetes and come face-to-face with the fact that my life is a completely screwed-up mess of my own making.

In all that time, Behind the Counter – and constant stream of comments people leave – has been one of the only things that made me feel like getting out of bed in the morning.

Every time I checked my email, I hoped for a comment. Comments – be they good, bad, hateful or inane – were like little happiness grenades in the dark hours of my days.

If you, my readers, were making an effort to tell me how you felt about my work – I owed it to you to give you fresh content.

Even the haterade. You don’t exist on the Internet until you have haters. For every voice that speaks out, there are ten more that scream in silence.

I made mistakes – lots of them. If I had it to do over again, I would probably try to interact with my readers more. My paranoia over being discovered led early on to me instituting a “zero-contact” policy for all but the most extraordinary requests. In retrospect, I think that only made some people MORE curious about me – including some stalkers who analyzed every single post for clues.

I also wanted to sell merchandise. I had some T-shirt designs in the preliminary stages, but never got around to setting up a store on Zazzle. I really, really wanted to sell T-shirts where someone tries to return a baby.

Over the past year, my responsibilities at my real job have grown enormously. Some weeks, I spent up to 80+ hours at both jobs. Something was going to have to give.

I have always made no bones of the fact that I personally feel that Wal-Mart is not the best steward of its workers. The company as a whole needs to be broken down to its component pieces and completely rebuilt.

The current attitude of the bean-counters in Bentonville – who are issuing directives for the store-level employees without ever having been inside a store – are incredibly damaging to employee morale. So too is the absolute refusal to acknowledge the fact that stores cannot deliver even a minimal level of customer service if confined to the insanely low limits of the Bentonville directives for staffing.

In the time period from March until I left in October, I got a 2-11 p.m. shift nearly every Saturday and a 2-11 p.m. nearly every Sunday. I can count on one hand the number of shifts that were not 2-11. For that entire time, I was the only person scheduled at the Service Desk after the morning people went home at 4 p.m.

Psychologically, I knew that I could handle it. Wal-Martians don’t scare me. I am smarter, better and a thousand times meaner. However, it is immensely draining to go through weekend after weekend after weekend of the same crap, facing down the ghetto trash, the white trash and the dregs of society that only crawl out from under their rocks after dark. Nearly every Sunday, I had to plead for someone to give me my lunch; if I got a second break I sent a silent prayer up to the heavens and Kali’s waiting arms.

Wal-Mart literally does not care about its employees. They will mouth pretty words, but they are as empty as Paris Hilton’s head. The final straw came sometime in early summer. I had a rare 10-7 shift on Sunday and was actually looking forward to getting home in time to do laundry and sleep before going to work on Monday. When did I leave? 10 p.m.TWELVE HOURS AT THE HOUSE OF WAL.

I have had several long talks with the very few people in my life that I trusted with the secret of Behind the Counter. (Thank you all, you know who you are!) Every time they asked me “Why are you still working there?” – the only answer I could give was that I needed material for my blog. Finally, that answer just wasn’t good enough anymore.

I had to make a terrible choice – between my sanity and my blog. To be fair, it took me nearly a year to finally decide to walk away from Behind the Counter. I don’t believe that my writing should make me unhappy – and going to the House of Wal each weekend simply made me miserable.

At the end of the day, I wrote about entitled idiots trying to scam the system and generally acting like they need a beating with whips made of scorpions. I saw a niche in the blog ecosystem and I filled it – maybe not especially well or with great style and verve – but I filled it.

My next project is going to be “21 Minutes” – which is linked in the top right-hand column. (I thought seriously about concentrating on my Howler Monkeys project, but at the end of the day, I don’t think it has real legs. I mean, how much complaining about children can I do?)

What is “21 Minutes?” Well, the premise is that I’m going to go somewhere each day and describe the action for 21 minutes. The same snark, the same fashion critique, the same howler monkeys, the same WOACAs, the same witty wordplay. We may even do a post at the Wal-Mart from time to time. I hope you like it. If not, that’s fine too. This is something I’m doing for myself – and it doesn’t make me hurt inside.

Right now, I’m happier than I’ve been in a long time. I’ve had a few weekends to spend reconnecting with my friends, rebuilding my social life and trying to figure out what exactly it is that I’m going to do with the rest of my life.

For the record, I want to personally thank each and every reader of Behind the Counter over the past three years. Thank you for reading. Thank you for leaving comments. Thank you for subscribing via RSS. Thank you sending me your emails. Thank you for clicking on the advertisements. Thank you for putting links on your own personal Web pages and blogrolls. And to the two people who purchased me gifts off my Amazon Wish List – I LOVE YOU!

At the end of the day, all I did was write. Thank you all for appreciating it.

Yes. You all still have questions. No. I’m still not going to tell you my name or the location of my store. I’m not stupid. Anything else you want to know, please leave it in the comments.

I've been reading since I found the blog ~ six months ago. Never had a reason to comment before. The one thing I always seemed to find myself thinking while reading was that you were too intelligent to be working there.

Some days your entries made me laugh so hard I cried. (And some days they made me want to cry for humanity so much that I had to laugh...) I used to do the same job and I can't tell you how good it's been to read your posts- like sitting down with an old friend who knows exactly what you mean without you having to explain. So thank you for bringing so much enjoyment.

Congratulations on making such a difficult and sensible decision- I'm sad to see you go, but happy for you too. I wish you much better health and happiness post-Walmart!

I've been a longtime reader and honestly I just love the way you write. I despise Walmart as well, though it's the only place I can shop since they've run everyone out of business in my neck of the woods - aka...small crappy town. So that added extra interest, but really your writing style is what kept me here. I look forward to reading your new blog. As another PP mentioned, you are way too smart to be working at Walmart.

I'm sure everyone will be happy with you analyzing as you said you would do in your new blog. Heck you could complain about anything in your day to day and it would still be amusing with how you put it out there.

I will always be a reader as long as you write. You should consider doing something professional with your creative writing.

*applaudes*Bravo! I am glad you chose for yourself. There is only so much crap a person can take and you have done enough. I am going to miss BTC. I have been reading it for a long time, almost a year and I always checked regularly. Your writing is entertaining, witty and eloquent despite your often obvious irritation or anger. That is a gift! And you should keep it up :-)I am defenitely going to check out your new blog. Thanks for Behind the Counter!

Been subscribed to this blog since... honestly i dont remember, but a much dam longer time than ANY other blog i've ever come across. Your posts are hilarious and often sad portrayal of certain members of todays society and i've loved every minute of it. Will miss seeing that little unread symbol next to the words "Behind the Counter".

I hope you get to wherever it is you want to go with your life. *Subscribes to '21 minutes'* WOO!

Well good for you. I've been reading your blog for about a year now, and, while I was getting a lot of enjoyment out of it, I was seriously thinking that you sounded way too good for this job. Congratulations on making a difficult, life-changing decision. I've already subscribed to 21 minutes and I'm looking forward to it. Take care.

Holy crap, Beeb! You kept working there for us? Had I known that I would have organized an immediate boycott. Trust me, there are idiots everywhere to mock. No need to descend into the fiery depths of wal for material. Talent works in any setting.

I did the same job juggle from 2001 until last September. I'd started with Walmart back at home for a Christmas and a few months after and when I moved to a new city it was the easiest place to get work. My student loan was hovering over my head like the Sword of Damocles.

I managed to get a second job with the library and every moment of my life seemed to be given over to work or commuting to and from. Nobody could figure out why I put up with it, but those damnable bills and loans.. one job's wage just wouldn't cut it.

In August of 2006 I made the last payment on my student loan. It took all the savings I had to do it, but it was done. I stayed with Walmart for another year still, still hating it, still wishing I the balls to walk out, still coming to work (almost) every shift.

Opportunities arose with the library for a bit of advancement (seniority sucks until you're senior) and it was with great pleasure that I handed in my resignation in Sept of this year. That was a happy moment.

I look forward to your new project. I'm sure it'll be something you'll put your heart into because you want to. Make a note never to martyr yourself again.

Wow, your commitment to the blog and your readers speaks volumes for you. Thanks for the great stories that sprung from your mind. I've been reading for months since discovering you from the Consumerist, and yours was one of the first stories out of all my RSS feeds (about 30 total) I would click on. Good luck to you in the future!

Thanks so much for all the posts... they always gave me a little more understanding for what Wal-employees go through on a daily basis, made me act a little nicer to them when I went shopping there myself.Every time I pass customer service I give the employees a look and somehow feel like I understand what they're having to put up with on a daily basis.Already enjoying 21 minutes!

I thought you might have suddenly gained more time on your hands when you had that theme-post week. Congrats to you on doing what's right for you. Thank you for the many howls of laughter I had reading your post. And good luck on your next endeavour.

Per your Starbucks addiction... I have HAVE to suggest you invest in a Nespresso machine and coffees. I discovered this little taste of heaven when living in Europe. Simply the best, 1,000% times better than Starbucks (even though I am partial to their Espresso Roast Whole Bean Coffee).

www.nespresso.comMachines range from $179 to over $2,000, it just depends on what features you want. Their coffees have to be used in the machine (BEST coffee on the planet, hands down!) and costs approx .50-.75 per capsule. Much cheaper than a daily $4-8 Starbucks addiction, far better than Starbucks and will make you feel like you own a piece of luxury, like slipping into Prada shoes!

God bless you. I'm grateful for all the pleasure spiked with pain you've dished out over the last few years. I'm glad for your sanity you're finally getting out. I hope the inevitable book deal is lucrative and that you hold many signings at WalMarts across the land.

Failing that, I hope you enjoy seeing your friends, relaxing, and enjoying your life on weekends.

Woah! Sorry I never commented before, but I sure loved this blog! I found it not too long ago, but I read everything and then checked it every day hoping for a post. I didn't even know if you were male or female. What great fun reading your snarky wittiness! I hope only the best for you and yours! Thanks for all the great entertainment.

Oh BOY will I miss your blog! It was one of the very first spots I'd check online each morning and could be counted on to make me laugh outright at the beginning of a long work day. May you know much success with your job...personal joy in your life to come..and success with the new blog! I have already bookmarked it and will be reading. Enjoy your freedom! Blessings.....S.

Oh BOY will I miss your blog! It was one of the very first spots I'd check online each morning and could be counted on to make me laugh outright at the beginning of a long work day. May you know much success with your job...personal joy in your life to come..and success with the new blog! I have already bookmarked it and will be reading. Enjoy your freedom! Blessings.....S.

I have enjoyed reading your blog for the past couple of years. I hope you decide to work this into a book at some point. As much as I hate to see you leave from my own selfish standpoint, I am glad that you are moving toward a better place. You deserve a baseline of happiness and I'm glad that you recognize that and you're moving toward getting there. Best of luck with your future.

Thanks for your committment and incredible effort to put out this blog for a bunch of people you've never even met. Your blog has been an essential part of my morning. I will happily move on to 21 and eagerly await your next efforts.

I've been reading for more than a year. I'll be sorry that I won't be getting new stories but like everyone else here - good for you that you quit! One's psyche can only stand so much. I have not purchased so much as a gumball from the House of Wal since I started reading your blog.

Thanks for your blog. Have rarely commented, but have been a regular reader for about a year or so.

My favorite personal House O' Wal story happened a few years ago when I tried to purchase a digital camera there. Because it was later in the evening (around 11 PM), the worker bees were unable to find anyone in the store with enough authority & responsibility to actually have keys to the cabinet where the merchandise was locked up.

I rewarded their forward-thinking, consumer-friendly security policy by purchasing the same camera at Circuit City the next day.

Ditto what adira said. It's not Wal-Mart, but your remarkable writing that kept us coming back. I'm a writer too and I envy your knack for the outrageous. Keep it up, but keep yourself sane too -- make time to do nothing and don't worry about satisfying your insatiable readers.

If I'd known how much the comments meant to you, I'd have commented far earlier than this. I'm sad that my daily fix of BtC is no more, but I'm delighted that you have found the strength to make a move that will make you a happier person. Congratulations on a momentous decision, and the absolute best of luck in everything you do.

Thanks for the great entries you have made for the past 3 years. You gave me something to look forward to every morning at my awful job. I'm really looking forward to 21 minutes and I hope you get lots of rest now that you're out of Wal-Hell.

Thanks for the blog and I am happy that you are making a decision that makes you happy!

If you were to quit wal why not go out in flames!? I mean one last entry in BTC where finally BBC goes balastic and puts on a show that will never be lived down in the house of wal! Oh I can picture it in my mind.

Oh well, I look forward to 21 minutes. Thanks for giving us years of entertainment.

I have been reading your blog for about the last 3 months and absolutely love your voice and your story telling abilities. I am going to miss the madness and mayhem from the House of Wal, however I look forward to reading your new project. Best of luck with everything you do, and thank you for keeping me entertained each day.

While I will be very sad to see the end of one of my favorite blogs which was always an absolute highlight of my day, I'm glad that you decided to put yourself first. I think anyone who has worked retail knows how soul sucking it can be, and I can only imagine just how much worse working at Walmart is. You are funny, talented, and I thank you much for taking the time to share so much with us. I will definitely be checking out your new blog. Best wishes!

Congrats on your first step to having a LIFE! I commend you for the crap you put up with at Walmart for the past three years. I don't know how you did it. I worked at a theme park one summer and experienced just how stupid the general public can be (actually, I pretty much knew that already). I'll miss reading your blog, but I'm happy for you taking a step to vastly improve your life. I'm looking forward to reading some of your other blogs. Godo luck in your endevors and thanks for the many laughs from Behind the Counter.

I've been lurking around your blog for quite awhile now, revelling in a fellow retail worker's commentary, and I too am sorry that BTC will be ending -- but your health and life goals are far more important!

I'd recommend compiling your blog entries -- perhaps fictionalizing the name of the store -- into a book. Obviously, the readership is out there.

Man, I can't believe you continued to work at Wal-mart just for the sake of the blog. I've been reading your blog for about a year or so, fun times. :D It's been cool seeing how it is having to deal with the daily detritus, and many emotions hath been shared through your writing. I'm glad that you're going to be keeping the other blog, I'll be sure to check that one out.

Congratulations for getting out while you are still sane! I can't believe you kept working there just for blog fodder. While I appreciate your blog a great deal, your health and happiness are SO much more important.

It's your style of writing that I enjoy so much. Off to check out 21 minutes.

Congratulations on your escape from the House of Wal! Behind the Counter was a wonderful blog and always made my day, but that's no reason for you to have to suffer the indignities of your weekend job and not to have any down time to yourself.

I've already bookmarked 21 Minutes and look forward to reading that regularly. I wish you all the best.

i have been a faithful reader here for a while now but havent commented. im very sad to see this blog go because it made by 9-5 go by quicker, but happy to see you making steps in the right direction and to focus on yourself! good luck and i will be following you on your new venture!!

Hello! I haven't commented before but I've been reading faithfully for a few months now. I'm glad to hear you're leaving Walmart even though I will miss the blog. I'm sure your next project will be just as entertaining though!! Best of luck. :)

thank you so much for endless entertainment. i've linked all my friends to your blog, but i may have never left a comment before. i will be anxiously awaiting your newest endeavor, and i hope that i enjoy it as much as this one.

i also want to congratulate you for getting out of walmart. i've often wondered how you could stay as long as you have.

I will greatly miss "Behind the Counter", but I totally understand why you came to your decision, and I agree whole heartedly with that decision. I will follow you, I have already been reading "21 Minutes" every day now. I don't comment e very day, but ermm, my "howler monkey" (LOL)makes it a bit rough to, at times. Come to Italy sometime, do a 21 minute blog in our tavernette. You have excellent writing skills. I love you, man! You Rock! Brightest Blessings.

Just kidding! It's about time you quit that crappy job, I could tell it was really stressing you out (been their myself)and you deserve much better. I love your sense of humour and I hope that you get more enjoyment out of your new blog now that you don't have to sell your soul to Wallymart to get story ideas.

Congratulations! Seriously, it's been a pleasure to lurk here. I'm sorry that I've not been reading for long ( a couple of months) and I'm sorry that I've never felt I've had anything interesting to say in regard to your posts.

We don't really have WalMart here, (although I think they bought the ASDA chain a few years back, but I don't have an asda near me so I'm not sure) So you've shown me a whole other world that I never even knew existed.

Good luck hun, you're much too good for the hellhole you've managed to walk away from. All the best,

I've been reading your blog for a few months now and I wanted to say that I've really enjoyed reading your posts. You do not need to feel bad over stopping the posts. No blog is worth your health and sanity.

I'm not really sure what you do for your real job, but I hope you enjoy it and I sincerely hope that life gets a lot better for you.

I'm sad to read this news since I have enjoyed your blog for a LONG As someone who also lives in Florida and shops at the house of Wal, I give you immense amounts of credit for sticking it out as long as you did.

You are a VERY gifted writer - I look forward to reading your new blog. Good luck to you, and thanks for 3+ years of great reading! :)

I haven't commented before, but I've been a consistent reader for the last six months or so. You should be proud of what you've done, but you should also be proud of your choice to move on... your happiness is more important, in the end, than filling a niche. Misery makes for good copy, but bad lives.

Another person whos never said anything meanwhile having read every post over the last who knows how many months now. Went from another blog that they quit, to yours, and I have enjoyed the stories, and enjoy the howler monkey blog and am enjoying 21 minutes. You have token'd the term howler monkeys to me and my friends because thats what they really are. =)

Thank you for the daily entertainment from my checking the blog, and for the part of your life that youve given. Wish you the best, and am really happy that you are no longer part of the wal, and look forward to the continuation of 21 minutes.

I'm so happy you have made the best decision for you. I found your blog a few months ago and have enjoyed your talented writing so much. I agree with other commenters that whatever you choose to write about will be wonderful to read. I love the concept of 21 minutes; I think it will be the perfect vehicle for your trademark scene descriptions. Good luck!!!

I, too, am in the same place as you were. I am getting SO sick of working at my (Target) store, but it's one of the only things I am super-knowledgeable about (not that I'm dumb or anything). Seeing that it IS possible to leave may be a starting pont for me, as I've known for a long time that I do need to leave.

THANK YOU! For everything. You've shown me there are others out there that feel the same way as I do. I appreciate everything you've done. If nothing else, you can be sure that I've at least smiled while reading your posts.

I wish you the best of luck with everything and I will be checking out the new adventure as you create it.

I can not even begin to tell you how saddened I am that you will be ending this blog. I don't remember how, but I stumbled across your blog about a year ago, devoured all of your archives,lffgt and I have been a faithful reader ever since. I have checked out other blogs; a few are good, some are ok, most are bad, but none are as good as yours. You are a phenomenal writer and should consider writing a book. You have made me laugh at times in my life when I thought it was impossible for me to do so. You will be sorely missed. However, I have thought from the get go that you were too good to work there and I am glad you have decided to better your life by moving on.

Working in customer service at a hotel, I feel your pain. I could really relate to so many things you posted. And I can understand totally where you are coming from with this one. There's only so much crap you can deal with, even when you truly enjoy what you do. When you're doing it and can't find a good reason to keep doing it anymore except great material ... well, it's time to throw in the towel.

Best of luck - I will try to keep faithful to your other postings as well

As someone who who worked retail management for well over a decade, one of the happier days of my life was when I finally left retail for good. Nothing will sour your outlook on life, and people in general, than working in a soul-sucking retail job. As much as I enjoyed Behind the Counter, I'm glad to read that you are moving on from that part of your life, and that evil corporation, for better things.

BTC,I did NOT discover you in 2004, but I have thoroughly enjoyed your (ahem) comments, well ok, tirades about the Wal. I was in one once and it was just for the experience....I'd rather do without.I look forward to any writing you do and post, I'm with you.... I like your style. DMZ

I wish you all the best and send you my sincerest THANKS for the highly entertaining blog. I've been devoted for a year and have read most of your archives as well. I will miss your descriptions of the Wal patrons most of all - great visuals. GOOD LUCK!!!

I just stumbled on your blog a few months ago and enjoyed most of it (you can't please everyone all the time), but I can truely say I will miss the entertainment. Good luck with all your future exploits

Each morning one of the very first things I would do upon waking was sit down with my first cup of coffee and read BTC. I only found this blog a few months ago, and like others, have checked other one's out, but this is by far one of the best! I am really going to miss reading your stories about your adventures at the HouseofWal. Though American, I live in New Zealand and this blog was a way of connecting to "home." But, all that said, I think what you are doing is awesome and I'm so glad your getting out of a job you hate. I wish you much success in the future, and I too think you should try a book out, you have some serious talent!!!! And yes, I'll be an avid reader of 21 minutes, because in your case, it's not the subject matter, but how you write, that brings me back for more. Much happiness,

I just recently started reading Behind the Counter, and as much as I've enjoyed reading it, I'm glad to hear that you've left Wal-Mart and are in a happier place. This is one reader who will definitely be following you over to your new project!

Wow -- good for you! I just found your blog and really enjoyed it. However, now I feel a little guilty because my entertainment came at a price to you. Good luck and I'm looking forward to "21 Minutes."

Remember to always take care of yourself. If you don't no one else will.

"Nearly every Sunday, I had to plead for someone to give me my lunch...Wal-Mart literally does not care about its employees."

Sounds like a Disney job. I finally quit after I worked open to close for 2 months straight. I can't even count how many times I stood as perma-greeter, legs crossed because I hadn't had a bathroom break in 6 hours. Lunch? Forget about it. I took a day off and couldn't bring myself to go back. Let this all be a lesson to the young ones. Get out before they suck out your souls! Do whatever it takes to make jobs like this temporary.

While I am sad to see you go, I can totally understand why - I have worked in retail for far too long. And I care barely stand to shop in wal-mart, much less work there! I wish you the best of luck. Sometimes it is the difference between your sanity and going insane.

I've been reading for a long time and you actually helped inspire me start my own blog about the adventures I have in IT Support. I started ID10TErrors.com last month and have slowly been putting it together. Hearing your experiences made me want to share my own and it has been very helpful getting through the day. Thanks for putting this blog up, thanks for the good laughs, thanks for... well, everything! :)

I've never commented before, I just read your blog silently and love your writing style. I'm glad you're moving on to better things, and I sincerely hope you continue updating us with your witty prose. I'll be looking forward to your new endeavor!

It sounds like you made the right choice. There are lots of us out here that love to read your blog and it has been really great to read. But the bottom line is you shouldn't be sacrificing your own happiness just to keep us amused! Good on you and I can't wait to check out your new blog.

Wish that I had let you know before now how much I have enjoyed your blog. Since working at a local supermarket, I am able to avoid shopping at WM except for maybe 4 times a year. I can't imagine having to go there to work every day, or even every weekend! I'm looking forward to reading your new "21 minutes" blog...I really like your style, and would read you no matter what you write about.

Been reading your blog for over a year now, great stories funny stuff made laugh multiple times> Howeber leaving the Lovecraftian horrors of the House of Wal, to save your sanity was the best thing you could ever do for yourself.The thing is I've been in a toltal of two wal-marts over the years, and I had an instinctive feeling of loathing that I just wanted to get out as soon as I could.

As a former slave to the House of Wal, I understand completely. This blog, though great, is not enough reason to stay employed with a company that has no respect for its employees or customers. I love your blog and look forward to your new efforts. Take care.

*waves hand* I'd be one of your stalkers. :) I read your blog back to the first entry. *shrug* It was good reading. 21 Minutes sounds like an interesting blog, I'll def follow you over there, too. Good luck and we'll miss you!

(BTW, woman? Thought you were a gay man. Somehow you're less intimidating now.)

Thank you for the wonderful blog and all your hard work over the years. I'm a long-time reader and I had a feeling it couldn't last forever. I quit my job as a CSM about a month before you did so I can totally understand your decision. Customer service is easily the worst job in the entire store. In my opinion, even CSMing is easier.

I will definitely be reading your new blog. I'm glad you quit that hell hole!

Well, I've definitely been enjoying your blog for some time and loved the almost daily rants about the creatures in the House of Wal. Sorry to see it end but glad that it happened. It really put a smile on my face. I'll certainly keep an eye on your new project.

Enjoy your well deserved freedom and good luck. Thanks for all the great stories!

Finally! I knew you couldn't stay there forever! You've had a fabulous run, and now it's time for the better part of you to come out! I will continue to read-it wasn't Walmart that kept me here, it was your wonderful wit and great writing!

Woman, man, gay man, whatever the hell he wants to be called, who the hell cares, you, ma'am, are a fantastic writer! I love your blog oh so dearly & have been reading it for over a year now. It's sad that you're not posting in it anymore but I'm happy that you're getting your life back! From one ex-retail slave to another, take care of yourself & I will be turning my attention over to 21 min! :) xoxo

I've been reading your blog for about a year now and still get excited when a new post pops up in my RSS. Thank you so much for your entertaining stories. Anyone who has worked in retail can relate, sympathize and be relieved that they are not alone.

I look forward to 21 minutes, though I hope you turn your posts into a book, or at least keep them readily available. I'm sure its only a matter of time until I peruse the archives again. I remember the day I found your blog- i must have spent 4 hours just cruising the archives.

CONGRATULATIONS on the decision. if walmart depresses you just write about something different, I'm sure your new project will be just as entertaining.I'm keeping this rss subscription though, please make a post when the BTC book comes to amazon :)

I wish you good luck in your wal-less future and please keep writing.

yeah and thanks a lot for staying there that long just to get new material for us.

Aww, dammit all anyway. I love your stuff and can't think of much to say that hasn't been said in the first 184 comments. Will BTC archives be available for a while? I'm not sure it will feel like Thanksgiving without my annual reading of your blog about the lady who returned an her Thanksgiving dinner...

I've enjoyed reading your posts (your blog was always at the top of my favourite blog list of bookmarks.) I am looking forward to reading 21 Minutes - good luck and congratulations for making the big move.

I too am waiting for a job scene change - hopefully I'll soon be happy in the work place (once again) as much as you seem to be.

Thank you for all the entertainment and laughs, as well as some seriously sobering moments. Your blog was also a helpful reminder to me always think about the way I interacted with people, especially in a retail environment. I will check you out at 21-minutes. Good luck!

Thanks for all the time and effort that you have put into your writing. As a Wal-Mart employee for nearly 10 years before I quit to stay home with my daughter, I can totally relate to that wonderful feeling of freedom that comes from walking out the door no longer a wal-martian. Good luck and I'll be reading your new blog and looking forward reading more of your interesting take on the world. :)

I guess one can only put up with a certain amount of Wal-Mart insanity. Unfortunatly for me my husband is still with Wal-Mart and probably will be until I can finish up my degree and get a good job. Your blog let me feel like I could better understand the things my husband goes through on a daily basis. I will miss your blog but I don't blame you one bit for quiting. My husband tells me everyday how much he hates working at Wal-Mart and how he wishes he could quit. Good luck with your new blog, I will be reading it also. Hopefully it will be more enjoyable than behind the counter.

BBC, I am SO sad to hear Behind the Counter is finished, but I am SO happy you finally quit!

I know all too well how awful it is to drag your butt out of bed every day and go to a job you hate just because you have to work SOMEWHERE to pay your bills, so I am thrilled you've finally realized you don't need this stress in your life anymore. Not for the money. Not for the blog.

I am looking forward to reading "21 Minutes". Best of luck to you, BBC, and you better darned well remember me when you get your book deal and become a famous author! ;)

Gotta say, I'm sad that the blog is coming to an end...but I'm sincerely happy that you're doing something for yourself. No one should have to work customer service --ESPECIALLY at Wal Mart-- forever. (I don't think anyone could handle the emotional drain from all the stupids.)

I rarely read things that funny, thanks for all the laughs. I'll miss your acerbic wit turned towards white trash and their assorted ilk, but am glad you won't have to personally assist them anymore. Best of luck on your continued adventures.

Glad to hear that you're happy, sweetie! And shit yeah, count me in for a loyal "21 Minutes" reader. Cheers to hoping that you'll enjoy your new blog WITHOUT all the nasty taste of a terrible job to go along with it!

Well, I'm sorry to see you go, but I'm glad that you have found happiness in your life by leaving Wal Mart. You certainly lasted longer than I could've (my foray into the "House of Mouse," aka Disneyland, lasted for only two summers). Still, I will always remember your posts whenever the siren song of "low prices" tempts me to set foot into Wallyworld.

BBC,With 199 comments before me, you may never make it to this one. If you do, though, know that I wish you all the best.

I have been regular reader and occasional commenter of this blog for some two years now and will miss it.

That said, you have made the right decision, and I look forward to checking out 21 minutes

Some people have mentioned occasionally feeling sad for the human race through some of your posts. One I remember was the intruduction of the term "prostitots" to describe little girls dressed scantily. That term makes me laugh, but it also makes me sad to think of those little girls.

Fellow Readers,About BBC's gender, my guess is that she made comments to make us think she was a guy so no one would figure out who she is.